St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-26

a poor chance of getting away unhurt,
unless he had host of friends ready to
help him out of his difficulty, for Dan
was the best shOti in that part of the Dor
der, and never hesitated to pick a quar-
rel on any provocation.
He was a strange fellow. this bloody
borderer, with huge body i'll which the
muscles stood out like strong cables and
showed we'll through his buckSkin suit.
His sombrero-crowned head was large
and covered with shock of sandy hair;
his eyes, blue and mild; his feet con-
cealed by pair of number ten boots, at
the heels of which jingled pair of Mex
lean spurs.
His belt resembled a small arsenal in
its exhaustive assortment of knives and
pistols. In short, one would recognize.
at first sight, the fact that though he
was not necessarily man to be re-
spected, he was certainly one to be
feared.
Yet, wild and reckless as he seemed,
the man had heart corresponding in
size to his frame, and his friends could
tell you that it needed nothing exceed
part of his anatomy. In fact, he was a
great, overgrown good fellow, whom
successes in the rough life of the West
had degenerated into bully.
On the day when our story opens
Dakota Dan was cr0Ss-decidedly so.
His yellow hair stood up aggressively,
his wide forehead was serrated with an
angry scowl, and his lips were closed
cruelty, reminding one OF savage bull
dog.
His associates, taking outward ap-
pearanceS as an indication of Internal
feelings, kept prudently aside and left
the moody giant to his own reflections,
which fact did not seem to improve his
condition of temper.
The cause of his anger was slight, but
it was enough to roll the feelings of our
border brave. On the preceding even
ing, at a mining village in the foothills,
Idaho Ike. gambler. had declined to
drink with him. This was considered
as deadly insult by Dakota Dan, and
only the fact that the gambler was sur
rounded by friends, while lie was alone,
kept him from beginning war of eX-
termination at once.
However, in view of this circum-
stance. he had partially restrained his
feelings and returned to his native
heath yOWing speedy vengeance.
He was sitting on barrel Whetting
his bowie thoughtfully. AS he glanced
at the keen edge a strain of distant
logged look left the tough'S face and he
glanced up with interest.
A large barn-like building doomed into
the air, nearly block away, and from
this the music seemed to emerge. 1t
was roller rink, newly opened to the
public. and the band inside was playing
Smartly to allure the paSSer-by. g.
Dakota Dan Sprang up and proceeded
toward the place. His friends followed
az a respectful distance.
Kinks were novelty in that section
of the West, and a large crowd had
gathered TO watch the sport. The air in
the room was warm and close, and the
large windows were raised and held by
sticks placed under the sash.
Few of the skaters were experienced,
and to the spectators it seemed that the
sport consisted in seeing who could re-
ceive the most bumps and bruises in
making one circuit of the room. Hunt
erS, greasers, tOughS and tenderfeet
were falling like autumn leaves, and the
air constantly reSOunded with shouts
and pealS of laughter.
When Dakota Dan entered there was
a slight lull, for he was well known by
| most of those present.
For some time he watched the aWk-
ward gyrations of the novices, a look of
disgust creeping over his broad face.
Suddenly he turned to the proprietor
of the rink.
.'Hyar. Boss. Give me pair of roll
ers, quick, an III show these tenderfeet
how TO skate"
The boss did not hesitate, but has
tened to accommodate the giant. though
he looked sadly from the huge body to
the floor, as if he feared the conSe-
ouenceS to the latter in case of tumble.
Dakota Dams friends diScreetly drew
their faces into grave expression and
awaited developments. The skates
were adjusted and Dan sailed forth con-
fidently.
He had scarcely taken a half-dozen
strides when he came into violent con-
tact with another skater, who also was
evidently new at the business. Each
staggered back and glared at the other.
s'Scoundrel,'' cried the stranger.
''IdahO Ike" snarled Dakota Dan.
Then TWO revolyers flashed in the air.
But the crowd had witnessed the cpl
sode and were surging toward the doors
and windows, anxious to escape, for
| even Western crowd does not always
| like cold lead served up pr0miScuouSly,
gratis.
The reports of the pistols echoed to
| the shouts of the crowd who had now
| gained the street and were rapidly
seeking shelter from the bullets which
might at any moment come crashing
| through the windows or thin walls of
| the rink, for no one doubted that it
would he fight to the death.
! One man remained. however, though
sorely against his will. He had been
| the last to reach the open windows, and
| in his hurried scramble through the
aperture, had dislodged the stick on
which the elevated sash rested. Thus
deprived of its support, the window
beating the breath from his body and
holding him firmly, an unwilling cap
| tive.
Bang! bang! spoke the reYolyers in